Interzoo 2024 preview: The International flagship event for the pet supplies industry

As the largest and most important meeting place for the international pet supplies industry, Interzoo 2024 (7 –10 May, Nuremberg) will once again be a decisive platform for pet food professionals to gather information about new products and trends in the sector as well as to connect with long-time partners and explore new partnerships.

A week that starts with Petfood Forum Europe on Monday, 6 May 2024, and continues with the four-day Interzoo covers the entire supply chain and creative power of the pet food industry through market insights, innovative special shows, and coverage of topical issues like sustainability.

As the industry's leading trade fair, Interzoo offers the most comprehensive product overview of all relevant segments in an expanding pet industry. Despite having a much larger exhibition space with an additional two halls compared to Interzoo 2022, the 2024 edition of the trade fair has exceeded the magical 2,000 mark for registered exhibitors and covers an overall exhibition space of well over 140,000 square metres.

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'The sold-out Interzoo halls that break records with regard to exhibitor numbers, exhibition space, and internationality show the huge pulling power of Interzoo for the gradually growing international pet supplies industry,' says Gordon Bonnet, Managing Director of WZF and ZZF (German Pet Trade & Industry Association, the institutional sponsor of Interzoo). 'For trade visitors, there is no better opportunity on the globe to experience first-hand the incredible array of new products and exciting companies, to build networks, and to gain inspiration!'

International exhibitors

The strong international presence at the world-leading fair, which has an overseas exhibitor contingent of around 86%, ensures an unrivalled overview of the global market. After Germany, the countries with the largest numbers of exhibitors are China, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, the USA, Belgium and the UK. There will be a total of 15 national pavilions, from Brazil (two pavilions including one devoted to aquariums), Canada, China (two pavilions), the Czech Republic, France, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, the UK and the USA.

WZF has noted an increase in registrations for stand space from some European countries, e.g. from Italy (+31%), Poland (+27%), and Turkey (+26%). There has also been stronger demand from outside Europe, e.g. from the USA (+60%), India (+34%), and South Korea, which has almost doubled its display area. China, which only sent 29 exhibitors in 2022 due to pandemic-related travel restrictions, accounts for the largest growth in the display area with a fifteenfold increase.

'The stronger demand across all continents shows how important Interzoo is as a showcase for innovation and a gathering place for industry decision-makers from all around the world,' says Dr Rowena Arzt, Director of Exhibitions at Interzoo organizer WZF.

Over 70 exhibitors from Spanish-speaking countries (+19 % compared to 2022) contribute to the great diversity of products at Interzoo 2024, covering a total of about 2.500 square metres of exhibition space. On top of that, the neighbouring countries Brazil and Portugal are present with 26 exhibiting companies and almost 1.000 square metres.

Pet food innovation at Interzoo 2024

As in the past, products for dogs and cats account for the majority of the exhibits, with 81.2 percent of all exhibitors representing this segment. The next largest product categories are small animals and rodents (14.1%), aquariums and terrariums (13.3%), ornamental birds (11.6%) and pet food technology (8.4%).1

The rising interest in products and services associated with petfood technology (32% of visitors at Interzoo 2022) is also acknowledged by the supporting programme of Interzoo 2024: The Fresh Ideas Stage in Hall 3 has established petfood as one of its four topics of interest. On the last day of the trade fair, the Stage programme ends with the Fresh Ideas Contest where start-ups from the pet industry will have the chance to present their business idea to the audience and the jury in a short pitch in anticipation of attractive prizes.

Many international visitors expected

In view of these record-breaking figures, Dr. Rowena Arzt assumes there will be a lot of international visitors: 'The importance of Interzoo as a leading international fair and compass for a diversifying sector makes it the most popular setting for cultivating international contacts, dialogue, and business.' Also, the diverse and up-to-date supporting programme is a big pull factor for a lot of industry experts who gain to seek knowledge about other markets and current topics.

On 7 May 2024, the first official day of Interzoo 2024, the supporting programme focuses on sustainability. On that day, the Interzoo Sustainability Session will present the results of the Interzoo Sustainability Study 2024. With the help of recent data, experts will explain the current developments and challenges related to the topic of sustainability in the pet supplies industry and show ways to enhance sustainable development. Best practice examples will serve as illustrations and provide the basis for an in-depth discussion.

The Interzoo Country Sessions highlight and discuss the most exciting and important developments in the various geographic pet supplies markets. At Interzoo 2024, industry experts will present market data, trends, and import regulations for countries and regions such as Brazil, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the US in short conferences. Following the presentations, there will be time for discussion and networking. Participation in the Sustainability Session and the Country Sessions is free of charge for visitors to Interzoo 2024. The presentations will be held in English. All sessions will take place in NCC East, hall St. Petersburg.

In addition to the Interzoo Sessions, the supporting programme offers many other exciting presentations and networking formats for the pet industry. The stand of Interzoo's honorary sponsor ZZF, for example, will offer multiple presentations, including dog grooming demonstrations.

Exhibit

Top exhibiting countries by space

1. Germany
2. China
3. Italy
4. The Netherlands
5. Turkey
6. USA
7. Belgium
8. Great Britain
9. Spain
10. Poland
11. France

Places 7-9 are quite close apart, with possible changes until the post-show audit of the Society for the Voluntary Control of fair and exhibition statistics.

Top growth among exhibitor nations with more than 2.000 square metres exhibition space:

1. China
2. USA
3. Poland, The Netherlands, Turkey, Italy (all within a few minor percentages)

Source: Interzoo.